Touchstone Community School Names New Head of School

The Board of Trustees of Touchstone Community School, a progressive, independent preschool-through-middle school in Grafton, announced that it has hired Donald H. Grace to be its next head of school, beginning July 1. Grace will succeed Steven J. Danenberg, who plans to retire in June after three years as head.
Grace currently serves as head of school at The Park School of Buffalo in Snyder, NY, a Pre-K-through-12 progressive day school. He has a total of 35 years of experience in a variety of schools including leading the Hammonasset School in Madison, CT, the Glen Urquhart School in Beverly Farms, McLean School of Maryland in Potomac, MD, and Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School in Waltham.
Grace holds a B.A. from Harvard College, an M.A.T. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a C.A.S. from Fairfield University and has undertaken graduate work in early childhood education at Wheelock College.
Susan E.W. Spencer, chair of Touchstone’s Board of Trustees, said in a recent letter to parents, “Don received universally positive feedback from all with whom he met at Touchstone, including parents, faculty, administrative staff, students, trustees, and members of the Search Committee. The Transition Committee and trustees found Don’s 25 years of experience leading progressive schools of various sizes, his work with Mel Levine and the All Kinds of Minds national institute, and his publications, including articles in Independent School Magazine, to be an ideal match for Touchstone.”
Grace and his wife Catherine O’Neill Grace, an author and editor, plan to relocate to the Grafton area during the summer. Among other titles, Ms. O’Neill-Grace has published two children’s books with Plimoth Plantation. Grace grew up in Athol, and is excited about returning to Central Massachusetts.

Touchstone Community School is a non-profit, progressive, independent school with a 26-year history of providing outstanding education for children ages 4 through 14, serving Grafton and surrounding communities. The school is committed to educating the whole child, weaving together the social, emotional, intellectual, physical, ethical and creative aspects of a child’s growth and development.